Archive for year: 2018

Vietnam has been chosen as a popular traveling and living place recently by a lot of foreigners.  More than 100,000 foreigners are living here and many of them have called Vietnam their next home. Finding a new apartment to rent in a brand new country might be challenging at first sight, but you will see it not difficult at all with proper planning and careful consideration. Let’s go through the standard process below before taking actions.

1. Figure out your budget and your needs

You need to calculate your total monthly income to see how much you can afford for a rental. Advisors suggest that you should spend from 25 to 35 percent of your net income on monthly rent. Additionally, some landlords or building owners leave utility fees (like water, electricity, Internet, cleaning, etc.) for tenants to pay; thus, you may add extra 500,000VND – 1,000,000VND to your budget. Once you determine the maximum amount, let it lead your hunt so that you can ensure no overspending happens.

It is important that you sketch out the ideal apartment that you want to rent. Do list down all requirements: from location, surrounding convenience, number of rooms, furnished appliances to included services like laundry or cleaning. In case not all items in your wish-list can be met, it’s better to divide them into “must-have” and “optional” so that you can narrow down prospect scope and also have a back-up plan in different situations.

2. Find a housing agent

It is the best way to find an available apartment since you don’t have to worry about language barrier which may lead to miscommunication. There are many agents supporting expats which can be found on the Internet and you can actually work with some agents at the same time. Because the landlord has to pay commission fee when the deal is signed, contacting several ones will give you more chances. Once your requirements are ready, just give them to the agents and they will revert to you with the potentials. One of the good agents is Alpha Housing, you can contact them for advice. Check apartment for rent in Hanoi here: https://alphahousing.vn/apartments/

3. Take a tour of proposed units

Landlords are always willing to show you their apartment to tenants in person. So, don’t hesitate to ask the agents to set an appointment for site check. Meanwhile, if there is any points need to be clarified, raise your voice with the presence of 2 other parties. And you should pay attention to the surrounding area as well since your neighbors or security status can have a big impact on your living condition.

4. Ink the deal

Once you agree to rent an apartment, you need to sign a lease contract with the landlord. The standard leasing period is at least 3 months and you are often required to make a deposit (equivalent to rent amount of 1 or 2 months) right after the contract is signed. Even when deposit is made, it can’t be taken back in case you change your mind. Make sure that you read all the terms carefully and all agreed points in verbal discussion are reflected on the paper. You may ask a Vietnamese friend help you cross-check Vietnamese part in dual language contract before you sign on the dotted line, too.

5. Arrange your settlement

Do notify the landlord 1-2 weeks before you move in so that they can clean the house and get everything ready. Besides, it’s good to check again with them about parking and elevator in the building to move things up since some have quite strict regulations on this. Last but not least, ask the owner to walk through the house with you just right before putting your stuffs. And if you notice any spoilages or damages, remember to take pictures and show the landlord, too. This later will protect you from being responsible for any damages caused by others.

The process can be demanding for first-time tenants, especially foreigners. Be smart to plan as early as possible before you arrive in Vietnam to make a better decision about where to live. Hope that those instructions will help you succeed in searching a dream home in the country no matter how long you will live here.

Vietnam has been famous to foreigners recently for not only beautiful natural landscapes but also unique specialties. For Singaporeans who are planning to travel to Vietnam, these are the top iconic Vietnamese food that you must try at the time you are in this country.

1. Banh Xeo – Vietnam food

Bánh xèo Việt nam

Banh Xeo is an iconic Southern dish. This is a favorite dish of many people, locals as well as foreigners. Banh Xeo is the Vietnamese savory fried pancake made with the mixture of rice flour, water, turmeric powder. After that, they will stuff it with slivers of fatty pork, shrimp, diced green onion, and bean sprouts. When enjoying this dish, people often wrap a piece of Banh Xeo with the rice paper with lettuce and fresh herbs and then dip them in the sweet fish sauce.

2. Banh Khot among the most iconic Vietnamese dishes

Banh Khot among the most iconic Vietnamese dishes

Banh Khot is one of the most popular dishes in Southern Vietnam. Its traditional version is in Vung Tau. To make Banh Khot, people often mix coconut milk and rice flour together and fry in a mini-pancake pan. Then, seafood such as medium-size shrimp or squid will be topped on it. This dish is served with fresh vegetables and sweet fish sauce.

3. Bun Bo Hue

Bún bò Huế – a must-try Vietnamese food

Bun Bo Hue is a popular Vietnamese noodle soup, and one of the most typical foods of Hue. Its broth is prepared by stewing beef and bones for a long period of time. After that, a large range of different spices containing a little shrimp paste, lemongrass and chili are added in. Apart from beef, you can eat this specialty with cubes of brown congealed pig blood, which are good for those suffering from high blood pressure. Bun Bo Hue is usually served with a variety of herbs such as bean sprouts, lime, onions, and sliced banana blossom.

4. Mi Quang

Mỳ Quảng _ a great Vietnamese dish in central Vietnam

Mi Quang can be found at most restaurants in Vietnam. It comes from Quang Nam province. The kind of noodles used in this dish is flat rice noodles dyed yellow from turmeric powder. The broth is made simply with various bones, fish sauce, black pepper, shallot, and garlic. The dish can be served with pork, chicken, shrimp, and Quail eggs. Banh Trang – sesame-flecked rice crackers – is an extra never missed in any Mi Quang bowl.

5. Che

Chè Việt Nam

Don’t leave Vietnam without trying any of the most typical Vietnamese desserts – Che. Che is a Vietnamese traditional dessert. There are diverse of Che in Vietnam such as Che ba mau, Che khuc bach, Che chuoi, and Che sam bo luong. Depending on the types of Che, ingredients are different. They are often made with mung beans, black-eyed peas, kidney beans, tapioca, jelly, tropical fruit, and coconut milk. Some kinds of Che are served cold, some are better if you eat it warm.

6. Banh Beo

Bánh bèo Việt Nam

Banh Beo is a heritage dish of central Vietnam. It is a kind of small steamed rice cake in Vietnamese cuisine. Banh Beo is white in color and typically features a dimple in the center. People often fill in it with savory ingredients such as chopped green onions, dried or fresh shrimps, mung bean paste and fried shallots. At some food stall, they add small pieces of fried bread on top as an extra. Banh Beo is served with fish sauce.

7. Banh Trang Nuong

Bánh tráng nướng Việt Nam

Know as Vietnamese pizza, Banh Tran Nuong is one of street food in Vietnam that you shouldn’t miss. It originates from Da Lat. This crispy snack is made from grilled rice paper, egg, cheese, and top with dried beef, green onions, and spicy chicken. Banh Trang Nuong is preferred by most of the people in Vietnam, especially children and the youth.

Trying specialties is one of the most top things to do in Vietnam. These are typical food in Vietnam that you should taste when coming to this country. Hope your journey in Vietnam will be more interesting with our suggestions.

Just-in: Vietnam visa for Singaporeans

At the moment, all Singaporeans are exempted from Vietnam visa for 30 days staying in Vietnam. This is according to the bilateral visa exemption agreement between governments of the two countries.

You holding a Singapore passport only need to apply for Vietnam visa in case you wish to stay in Vietnam for over 30 consecutive days. If it is the case, you may have two options which are clearly described here: Get Vietnam visa for Singaporeans.

Normally, the paperwork for Vietnam visa for Chinese people will be troublesome and time-consuming. Please refer to the easiest ways to apply for Vietnam visa for the Chinese in Singapore as below.

Apply at the Vietnamese embassy in a third country

This is the most common, traditional way, especially, for the Chinese living and working in Singapore, they can directly go to Vietnam embassy in Singapore to apply for Vietnam visa.

1. Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore

• Address: 10 Leedon Park St., SINGAPORE 267887
• Phone: (65) 64625994
• Fax: (65) 6462 5936
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.vietnamembassy-singapore.org/

Working time

• Monday to Friday: 8:30 am – 12:00 a.m and 2:30 p.m – 5:30 p.m
• Visa procedure: Monday to Friday (9 a.m – 12 a.m)
• Other consular procedures (grant, renewal, change of passport, notarization, legalization, making birth and death certificates, etc.): Monday, Wednesday, Friday (3 pm – 5 pm)

Advantage

You will be stamped visa immediately after your application is approved.

Disadvantages

The procedure is quite complex and the cost is very high, especially for the Chinese labors with long-term work and multiple entries so the ability to refuse of approving visa is very high. With the 7-day review period, if you have an urgent need during the day, it will be difficult to arrange.

2. Apply for e-visa

This is a new visa policy applied by the Vietnamese government in more than 40 countries since February 1^st, 2017 including China (Not apply to Chinese e-passport holders). Therefore, you can refer this way to get Vietnam visa for Chinese in Singapore.
Advantages

Vietnam E-visa is a convenient method by just visiting the website to enter information and waiting for visa approval. The fee of e-visa is 25 dollars which is pretty cheap and simple compared with visa at the Embassy.

Disadvantages

The website interface is not user-friendly, difficult to operate because it only allows one entry and staying up to 30 days. In order to be granted an electronic visa, you must complete the information in accordance with each process, especially for long-term approval. Please give a try to apply for an electronic visa at https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/web/guest/trang-chu-ttdt

3. Apply for Vietnam Visa on arrival

This is a policy for the reputable international travel companies and organizations in Vietnam which are able to guarantee customers, partners to Vietnam for various purposes. It is a good choice to get Vietnam visa for Chinese in Singapore.

Advantages

It is fast, meet urgent needs even within 1 working hour. The implementation is really simple with a cheap cost and many options for entry (time, purpose and number). Depending on the type of service you require, the length of time you have an official entry issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department through our guarantee is fast or slow but the normal processing time is 2 working days for regular service. Upon arrival at the airport and customs clearances, present this entry to the airport customs staff to stick the visa stamp to original passport. It is absolutely valid and legal for a normal visa and is accepted throughout the territory of Vietnam.

Disadvantages

Another step is to stamp your visa at Vietnam airport. If you want to entry Vietnam by road, visa on arrival will not be able to apply this way.

Hope the article can be helpful somehow to get Vietnam visa for Chinese in Singapore. Just refer to the visa provider so they can support you timely as best as they can.